This is the tale of our Sanctuary and its many creatures, of winged and tailed birds and four-legged friends who live in it. Our home and feeding grounds are surrounded intentionally by dense bushes and trees to protect our menagerie that come day and night to feed on seed to the tune of 2,000 pounds a year. Our Sanctuary extends from our secluded lot back over fields, ponds, and forests to the Milwaukee River a half mile down the gravel trail that runs from the still existing original 1872 farmhouse. The land was once hunted by Chippewa and Algonquin Indians of the Potawatomi and Menomonee tribes and first explored by Joliet and Pierre Marquette in 1673. Settlers came from New York and Europe in the 1830s into the dense forestland to establish farms and orchards to homestead. This storybook brings to life 45 chosen characters that we almost daily observe playing and feeding in the Sanctuary throughout every season. Our Sanctuary is a sacred place of refuge from predators like Conner the Coyote and Wisey Owl even in the deep snow and cold winters of the north. In this retreat our congregation of characters raise their young and share in the plenty, unlike humans.

They are each described scientifically as well as in character type sketches accompanied by a Bible story that corresponds to their lives. The thread throughout is the grace and faithfulness of our God in creating and watching over His special work. It is written from the standpoint of observer for parents and grandparents to read to their children and grandchildren to share in our rich natural heritage. Enjoy the fun feeding frenzies and the antics of Sanctuary characters with your family.